Steve Bruce could be hired by Aston Villa after Roberto Di Matteo’s sacking

It appears as though Roberto Di Matteo will be given his marching orders this week, with the Aston Villa manager failing to get the sort of results that will have them challenging for promotion this term.

The Midlands side were among the pre-season favourites to win the Championship although they sit nineteenth in the table after managing just ten points from eleven matches.

Indeed, Villa have won just one game all term and it appears that owner Dr Tony Xia has lost patience with the manager, with Di Matteo losing 2-0 to Preston on Saturday.

Xia will want to recruit someone who has experience of managing in this league and it could be that Steve Bruce is hired despite his obvious connection to Birmingham City. Sky Bet offer 2/1 about the former Manchester United player taking the reins at Villa Park.

Bruce has previously done well in this division with the Blues and with Hull City, the latter of which he steered to the Premier League on two occasions.

Bruce left the KCom Stadium in the summer due to a fall-out with the club’s owners about finances although he’s a highly-experienced manager who would surely be able to get more out of the current squad.

Sam Allardyce is a 5/1 chance to replace Di Matteo, with the former England manager likely to want a return to football management and he’ll surely be attracted by the money on the table in terms of wages. Steve McClaren is a 6/1 shot, while caretaker boss Steve Clarke a 7/1 chance.

Perhaps David Wagner will also be approached although the current Huddersfield boss is performing magic at the John Smith’s Stadium and the Terriers will not want to lose their German boss.

Nigel Pearson is a free agent again after a disastrous spell with Derby County although perhaps his latest stint with the Rams would send warning signs to any club wanting to get promoted automatically from the division.

Di Matteo has been given over £50 million to spend on new players at Villa Park and has failed to mould a decent side, with Lee Johnson tipped as another candidate who could be interested in the role. However, the Bristol City manager has a strong affinity with his current club.